%0 Journal Article
%T COVID-19 in the Clinic: Trial of an Aerosol Containment Mask for Endoscopic Clinic Procedures.
%A Ference EH
%A Kim W
%A Oghalai JS
%A Walker CB
%A Badash I
%A Gallagher T
%A Ma HJ
%A Applegate BE
%J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
%V 170
%N 1
%D 2024 Jan 25
%M 37622584
%F 5.591
%R 10.1002/ohn.467
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Create an aerosol containment mask (ACM) for common otolaryngologic endoscopic procedures which also provides nanoparticle-level protection to patients.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Prospective feasibility study.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>In-person testing with a novel ACM.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The mask was designed in Solidworks and 3-dimensional printed. Measurements were made on 100 consecutive clinic patients who underwent medically necessarily endoscopy, 50 rigid nasal and 50 flexible, by 9 surgeons.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Of the 50 patients who underwent rigid nasal endoscopy with the ACM, 0 of 25 patients with the suction off and 0 of 25 patients with the suction on had evidence of leakage of 0.3 μm particles. Of the 50 patients who underwent flexible endoscopy with the ACM, 0 of 25 patients with the suction off and 0 of 25 patients with the suction on had evidence of leakage of 0.3 μm particles. In terms of comfort, 73% of patients found the ACM somewhat or very comfortable without suction, compared to 86% with the suction on. Surgeons were able to visualize all necessary anatomic areas in 98% of procedures. In 97% of procedures, the masks were able to be placed easily.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>ACM can accommodate rigid nasal and flexible endoscopes and may prevent leakage of patient-generated aerosols, thus avoiding contamination of the room and protecting health care workers from airborne contagions.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The level of evidence is 2.